All this week I have been striving to keep the routine as normal as possible – difficult when you have to take in the reading books and start sending home exercise books and artwork – a clear indication to the little ones that the year is fast drawing to a close.   To soften the blow we have stopped working in exercise books and instead concentrated on Educational and Creative Christmas activities.   The girls have enjoyed the cutting and sticking, dot to dots,fun sums, word searches, crosswords and creative writing that we have done in various forms.

Of course the Grinch who tried to steal Christmas has continued to be our focus.

The Grinch Pops out of the page

A very good interpretation

Stunning Santas

I really don’t like this time of the year.  It’s not that it’s the silly season – it’s the approaching parting of ways that is so hard.   Of course the children must move on and there is another class waiting to be welcomed but somehow that doesn’t make it easier.  The emotions are just there! The children are excited about next year but at the same time anxious about leaving what they know and it is my job to reassure them that all will be well when what I really want to say is – Don’t leave me Angels – and some dark part inside me says – the new teacher won’t love you as much as I do.  But of course that’s not true – she will and my angels will continue to grow and I will start again with a new lot!

When I look at this  photograph I felt so enormously proud – look at them engrossed in their books. That is what teaching Grade One is all about – they come illiterate and leave reading and loving books.   They have learned the most important skill necessary for further learning.  They have learned to READ!

A class full of readers

Enjoying the process

Deep into the stories

On Wednesday I will do my last Back in the Classroom Blog of the year.   I look forward to seeing all my parents at the Awards Ceremony on Monday.     Your little ones will make your proud!